Chansey Paech says an $11.6m funding cut to his portfolio not related to grandstand saga
The Racing Minister has been asked repeatedly whether the government is still seeking to recoup $12m from the Darwin Turf Club. SEE WHAT CHANSEY PAECH SAID
Northern Territory
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RACING, Gaming and Licencing Minister Chansey Paech has insisted there is “no relation” between government efforts to recoup $12m from the Darwin Turf Club (DTC) and an $11.6m cut to racing, gaming and liquor licensing funding.
Mr Paech repeatedly said during Budget Estimates that discussions about the government’s efforts to recoup $12m granted to build the DTC grandstand were “ongoing” with the organisation.
Former chief minister Michael Gunner last year vowed to recoup government money granted to the DTC after an Independent Commissioner Against Corruption report into the tendering process.
The 2022-23 budget papers show an $11.6m cut to ‘racing, gaming and liquor licensing’ within the Department of Industry, Tourism and Trade.
Mr Paech said this variation had “no relation” to the grandstand saga.
When asked by the CLP’s Marie-Clare Boothby as to whether the new Fyles government would continue attempts to recoup the $12m, Mr Peach said: “discussions around the Darwin Turf Club grandstand remain ongoing”.
Following up on this response, the CLP’s Marie-Clare Boothby asked whether the decision to recoup the funds “sends a message of uncertainty to all grant recipients that government can actually punish them for their own mistakes”.
Mr Paech responded: “Again, discussions around the Darwin Turf Club grandstand remain ongoing.”
“But as the Minister for Racing, Gaming and Licencing, I know first-hand just how important the racing industry is to the Northern Territory,” he said.
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